Macedonian peace talks hit an unexpected roadblock today when Macedonian Slav leaders presented new demands for ending an ethnic Albanian insurgency, Western sources said.
EU envoy Mr Francois Leotard said the Macedonians were holding a security council meeting in Skopje. "I am not afraid, I think we are on a good way but we need more time. One day, two days, not more I presume," he said.
But one source at the talks, between leaders of the main Macedonian Slav and ethnic Albanian parties to improve rights of ethnic Albanians, was less optimistic. These are deal-breaker demands, he said.
A breakthrough on police reforms on Sunday had raised hopes that an overall package measures to head off a new Balkan war could be agreed today.
Western sources said that the new demands had not been mentioned in Sunday's talks in southwestern Macedonia with EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana.